California: Field Poll

For decades, Californians proudly rated the Golden State at the top of the livability scale.

No more.

Since 1967, the Field Poll has been asking Californians to rate the livability of their state as either "one of the best places to live," "a nice but not outstanding place to live," about an average place to live" or "a poor place to live."

Between the mid 1960s and the mid 1980s more than 70 percent of residents gave California the highest rating, topping out at 78 percent in 1985 rating California as "one of the best places to live."

Since then, California has declined steadily in the estimation of its residents.

Two polls were actually released today on the 2010 California Governor's race.  The Field Poll did an extensive poll of the race, including favorability ratings, and Lake Research, a Democratic firm, did their own poll which included some head-to-head matchups.

Field's poll included Dianne Feinstein and I don't think the results were all that great for her.  In the primary she polls well under 50%, compared to earlier polls which had her closer to that number.

Dianne Feinstein: 38%
Jerry Brown: 16%
Antonio Villaraigosa: 16%
Gavin Newsom: 10%
John Garamendi: 4%
Steve Westly: 2%
Bill Lockyer: 1%
Jack O'Connell: 1%
Undecided: 12%

Considering she's the most well-known figure in California politics, and that there won't be that many competitors in the final field, that's not a runaway at all.

A Field Poll released today shows support for 6 items on the May 19 statewide ballot (they neglected to poll the new and improved Prop. 13, which deals with prohibiting seismically retrofitted buildings from being classified as "new construction" for property value purposes, and will also be on the ballot).  These are baseline numbers, as the awareness of the election is low and the turnout model is unclear.  But I think we can conclude that this initial support is in no way firm, and at least two items are in peril.  Here are the raw numbers:

Proposition 1A (Spending cap/tax extension)
Registered voters
Yes: 54 percent, No: 24

Likely voters in May special election
Yes: 57, No: 21

Proposition 1B (Education funding)
Registered voters
Yes: 59, No: 27

Likely voters
Yes: 53, No: 30

Proposition 1C (Lottery)
Registered voters
Yes: 48, No: 37

Likely voters
Yes: 47, No: 39

Proposition 1D (Early childhood services funding (Prop.

Former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman officially submitted her bid to explore a run for governor on Monday.

The move by the billionaire businesswoman sets up what's expected to be an expensive, 17-month auction between herself and Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner in the 2010 Republican primary.

"California faces challenges unlike any other time in its history -- a weak and faltering economy, massive job losses, and an exploding state budget deficit. California is better than this, and I refuse to stand by and watch it fail," Whitman said in a prepared statement, announcing her exploration of a run for governor. "Now is the time for people across the state to join in a cause for change, excellence and a new California.